Stock tank heater cover apparatus



Sept. 27, 1966 M. H. sTAPLEToN 3,274,918

STOCK TANK HEATER COVER APPARATUS Original Filed July 9, 1963 UnitedStates Patent O 3,274,918 STOCK TANK HEATER COVER APPARATUS Mathew H.Stapleton, Jefferson, Iowa Original application July `9, 1963, Ser. No.293,744, now Patent No. 3,212,494, dated Oct. 19, 1965. Divided and thisapplication Aug. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 481,834 1 Claim. (Cl. 98--62) Thisis a divisional application of my copending application, Ser. No.293,744 tiled July 9, 1963 entitled Stock Tank Heater, now U.S. Pat. No.3,212,494 issued October 19, 1965.

This invention relates generally to automatic gas tank heaters and moreparticularly to heaters of this type used in livestock tanks which areplaced in the open.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved cover apparatusfor the stock tank heater disclosed herein.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cover apparatuswhich permits air outside the heater to readily enter the upper portionthereof to be drawn downwardly for combustion purposes.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide such a coverapparatus which greatly aids the evacuation of exhaust gases from theexhaust portion of the stock tank heater, providing a slight vacuum forincreasing the eti-lciency of the exhaust structure.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a coverapparatus for an automatic stock tank heater capable of attaining theabove designated objectives which is economical, simple and rugged inconstruction, and effective in operation.

These objects, and other features and advantages of this invention willbecome readily apparent upon reference to the accompanying descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the stocktank heater of this invention, shown in assembled relation with a stocktank holding a normal quantity of water;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal vertical sectional View of theheater and the tank taken substantially along the line 2 2 in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional View of of the cover unitof FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the stock tank heater of this invention,hereinafter referred to as the heater is designated generally at in FIG.l. The heater 10 comprises basically van upright cylindrical control orburner box 11 having a rectangular, box-like housing `12 at the basetherof for a heat chamber 13, and including a circular cover unit 14 forthe admission of fresh air to the box 11 and for the exhausting of gasfumes from the heat chamber 13.

The heater 10 is adapted to be placed into a stock tank 16 of aconventional size and shape -for this type heater 10, with the top ofthe box 11 and the cover unit 14 always being above the level 17 of thewater y118. An noted from FIG. 2, the water level 17 is maintained atapproximately three-fourths the height of the box 11. The upper end ofthe box 1|1 and cover unit 14 are at a level above the rolled edge 28 ofthe tank 16.

The box 1.1 is secured to a side 19 of the tank 16, with its base 2'1(FIG. 2) resting on the bottom 22 of the tank 16, by a fastening unit 23which includes a circular collar 24 wrapped about the box 11 and a pairof interconnected arms 26 and 27 extending over the rolled edge 28 ofthe tank side I19. A pair of brackets 29 and 31 Iare attached to thearms 26 and 27, each for threadably holding a bolt 3,2 74,918- PatentedSept. 21, 1966 32 turnably engageable against the outer surface of theside 19. To space and maintain the heater box 11 inwardly from the side19, an `adjustable U-bracket 33 is afiixed to the lower end of the box11. By this arrangement of clamping the box 11 to the tank side A19, theheat chamber housing 112 extends into the interior of the tank 16 asbest shown in FIG. l.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, an automatic temperature controlassembly is indicated generally at 34 and is mounted within the box 11.This control assembly 34 includes `a gas supply pipe 36 connected to anexternal conduit 37, which leads to a supply of natural or bottled gas(not shown). At the lower end of the supply pipe 36, a commerciallyavailable automatic temperature control unit 38 is fluidly connected. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, the control unit 38 is supported at approximatelymidway of the height, or length, of the `heater box 111; andimportantly, Vat this position of the control unit 38 it is always belowthe normal level 17 of the water 18 in the stock tank 16.

A gas discharge pipe 39 depends 4from a iiuid connection from thecontrol unit 38 and has a conventional burner unit 41 extendedhorizontally from its lower end. The nozzle 42 of the burner issupported by a shield 40 within the lower end of the box 11. Athermo-couple line 43 also depends from the control unit 38, as does apilot light conduit 44, both of which elements terminate adjacent theburner nozzle 42 in the convention-al arrangement.

Within the heat chamber 13, baie 46 (FIGS. 2 and 4) is secured to thesides of the housing 12 and extends upwardly at an incline toward thefront of heat chamber i113. It will be noted in FIG. 2 that the entireheat chamber housing 12 is also slightly inclined upwardly. The purposefor this, as also the purpose of the baffle 46, is to trap and directcondensate to a pocket at the rear of both the baffle 46 and the base 47of the housing l12. A condensation burner plate 45, having a very narrowwidth as noted in FIG. 4, and having an Lshape with a rearwardlyextended portion 50, is secured to the underside .of the baille 46 anddepends therefrom to where the portion 50 is closelyadjacent the housingbase 47 and suspended thereabove. The burner plate 45 is placed directlyin front of the burner to receive the full heat of the flame emittingtherefrom when operating.

To transmit the exhaust gases vfrom the heat chamber 13, an exhauststack 48 is formed internally the box and fluidly connects the interiorof the heat chamber with the atmosphere at the top of the box 11. Astack extension 48a (FIG. 2) extends upwardly and inwardly from thestack 48 into the cover unit 14. To complete the exhausting of the gasfumes, the cover unit 14 is provided. This unit 14 includes a polygonalshaped base 52 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which has a pair of diametricallyopposed, depending lips 53 and 54. The lips are each adapted to restupon and to be supported by, respectively, a pin 56 extended outwardlyfrom the box 11, and the joint 57 between the supply conduit 37 and thesupply pipe 36, whereby the main part of the base 52 is spaced above thetop 58 lof the box 11. Secured to the underside of the base 52 is apolygonal intake battle member 60 of a width which permits the upper endof the box 11 to lit between it, the bale member 60, and the lips of'the lbase 52. Thus, as indicated by the downwardly directed arrows inFIG. 2, air from outside the tank enters the hollow box 11 through thevertical space between the main flat part of the base 52 and the topedge 58 of the box', and between the latter and the spaced portions ofthe baie member 60'.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the base 52 is provided `centrally with anupturned rim 59 defining an opening of a considerably smaller diameterthan the diameter of the box 11. Supported by a plurality of legs 62 onthe at portion or plate 63 of the base 52 is -a circular collar 3 64,the bottom edge 66 of which, except for the legs 62, is spaced above theflat portion 63. Extended upwardly from the collar 64 are a plurality ofAbraces 67 which support a circular concave-convex cover 68 theperipheral edge 69 of which extends laterally beyond the periphery ofthe collar 64.

The heater is completed by a sensing tube 71 which is an integral partof the control unit 38. The line 72 for the tube 71 extends upwardlywithin the box 11, thence outwardly thereof to be placed within thewater 18. As a practical matter, the tube 71 is inserted through abracket 73 (FIG. 1) secured to the exterior of the box 11, and heldthereby against unnecessary movement.

Operation of the heater 10 is as lfollows. With the control unit 38 setto maintain the water 18 in the tank at a certain temperature, operationof the control unit 38 results in a flame emitting from the burnernozzle 42, utilizing fresh air from the top of the box 11 as shown bythe downwardly directed arrows in FIG. 2. The flame impinges upon theburner plate 45 which attains extremely high temperatures. The plate 45,not being in contact with the walls 49, 47, and 51, of the heat chamberhousing 12, imparts this heat to the bale 46 which in turn heats thehousing 12 and thus the water externally thereof.

The exhaust gases move upwardly through the stack 48, and out throughthe extension 48a and the cover unit 14. To aid the evacuation of theexhaust gases, air passes between the collar bottom edge 66 and the base52, and then upwardly and outwardly beneath the cover 68. This movementof air creates a slight vacuum suicient to aid in pulling the airoutwardly from the stack 48. Putting it another way, intake air passages66a (FIG. 5) are formed between the arcuately spaced legs 62, and withthe plate 63 which permit air to enter the interior of the collar 64.Exhaust air and gas passages 67a are formed between the braces 67 of thecollar 64, and with the concavo-convex cover 68, whereby as the exhaustgases leave the stack extension 48a, as indicated by the arrows in FIG.5, air from exterior the collar 64 is pulled inwardly through thepassages 66a, -and is exhausted with the gas through the passages 67a.

The placement of the control unit 38 below the normal water level 17,and relatively close, about half the height or length of the box 11, tothe constantly burning pilot light (not shown) adjacent the burnernozzle 42, maintains the temperature at the control unit 38 sufficientlyabove the dew point of the air external of the control unit 38 toprevent condensation of water internally thereof, and prevents freezingof any water condensation which may accidentally form therein. Theplacement of the control -unit 38 also maintains the temperature of thegas well above its dew point.

Tests have shown that by maintaining the control unit 38 at thislocation below the normal level of the water line, and above the pilotlight as indicated above, the ambient temperature at the control unit 38has been stabilized at approximlately fteen to twenty degrees Fahrenheitabove the dew points of the air surrounding the control unit 38 and thegas internally thereof.

In summation, a stock tank heater has been disclosed and describedherein which is an improvement over other present day heaters of thistype and for this purpose, particularly as to stabilizing the ambienttemperature about the control unit even under most inclement Weatherconditions.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed anddescribed heerinbefore, it is to be remembered that variousmodifications and alternate constructions may be made thereto withoutdeparting from the true spirit .and scope of the invention as dened inthe appended claim.

I claim:

A cover apparatus for a stock tank heater, the heater having a burnerbox, a heater housing secured to the base of the burner box, and gasburner means mounted within said burner box at the base thereof; saidcover apparatus comprising:

a plate adapted to be detachably mounted on the upper end of the burnerbox and spaced above the normal level upper edge of the burner boxwhereby air passages are formed between the plate and said upper edge,said plate having an opening formed in a normally horizontally disposedportion thereof, said opening defined by an upturned lip;

a circular collar member having a plurality of arcuately spaced,depending leg portions mounted on said plate and surrounding saidopening, said collar member having a diameter greater than that of saidlip but less than the diameter of said plate, said collar member havingin addition a plurality of upwardly extended portions formed inarcuately spaced relation about the -upper edge thereof;

a cover mounted above and extended over said collar member, theundersurface of said cover concave relative to said collar member, saidcover having a diameter Igreater than that of said collar member; and

an exhaust stack adapted to lead from a position at said upper end ofsaid burner box within said opening to a position downwardly within theburner box, said exhaust lstack adapted to have uid communication withthe heater housing as the only fluid exhaust means therefor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 757,348 4/ 1904Ross. 2,445,302 7/ 1948 Clarkson 126-360 X 2,696,815 12/1954 Johnson126-360 2,763,196 9/ 1956 Singleton 98-46 2,984,237 5/ 1961 Gunion126-360 3,062,201 11/ 1962 Kudobe 126-360 ROBERT A. OLEARY, PrimaryExaminer.

ROBERT A. DUA, Assistant Examiner.

